A former policeman, who was dismissed after being accused of sexual discrimination, is facing an anxious wait for the outcome of a High Court bid to overturn a ban which prevents him working as a legal advisor in any Northumbrian police station.

Alan Thompson, formerly a police constable at Newcastle's Pilgrim Street station, was dismissed in August after allegations were made against him by a female colleague, his counsel, Gavin Miller, QC, told the court during a two-day hearing.

The woman police constable had accused him of making comments "amounting to sexual discrimination", he said.

But Mr Miller said Mr Thompson "maintains his innocence", and is appealing against his dismissal.

Mr Thompson is challenging what Mr Miller described as a force-wide ban, barring him from police stations in the county in his new capacity as a solicitor's representative.

Mr Miller said the central issue was whether the ban went beyond the scope of the Chief Constable of Northumbria's powers.

Mr Justice Gibbs reserved his decision, saying he hoped to give his ruling within the next two weeks.